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In This Tutorial
In this tutorial, you learn to use precision drawing tools to: NOTE For more information on the topics covered in this tutorial, see the AutoCAD LT Users Guide.
Set up a framework to use as a guide while drawing Align objects and visualize the distances between them Determine precise locations of objects in a drawing Specify angles and distances
Tutorial Files
Download the tutorial files as follows:
Grid is a rectangular pattern of dots that extends over the area you specify as the grid limits. Using the grid is similar to placing a sheet of grid paper under a drawing. The grid helps you align and visualize the distance between objects. The grid does not appear in the plotted drawing. Snap restricts the movement of the crosshairs cursor to an interval that you define. When Snap mode is on, the cursor adheres or snaps to an invisible grid. Snap mode is useful for specifying precise points with the cursor.
To display the grid 1 To open AutoCAD LT, click Start menu (Windows) (All) Programs Autodesk AutoCAD LT 2010 AutoCAD LT 2010- English. The AutoCAD LT window opens with an empty drawing file named Drawing1.dwg. 2 Check the status bar to make sure you are in the 2D Drafting & Annotation workspace. 3 On the status bar, click the Grid Display button to turn it on.
NOTE If you do not see the Grid button, right-click the status bar and click Status Toggles Grid (F7). A grid is displayed in the drawing area. Notice that it covers a limited area, the grid limits.
To set grid spacing 1 On the status bar, right-click the Grid button. Click Settings. 2 In the Drafting Settings dialog box, Snap and Grid tab, ensure that Grid On (F7) is selected.
In the Grid X Spacing box, enter 0.0500 to set the horizontal grid spacing in units. In the Grid Y Spacing box, enter 0.0500 to set the vertical grid spacing in units.
4 Click OK.
The spacing between the grid is now smaller. To set the grid limits 1 The LIMITS command controls the drawing area covered by the grid. At the Command prompt, enter limits and press Enter.
2 At the Command prompt, press Enter to accept the default coordinate value of 0,0. to specify the lower left corner of the drawing limits.
3 At the Command prompt, enter 480,360 and press Enter to specify the upper-right corner of the grid limits. The grid expands to cover a larger section of the drawing area. To turn on Snap mode 1 On the status bar, click the Snap Mode button to turn it on.
NOTE If you do not see the Snap Mode button, right-click the status bar and click Status Toggles Snap (F9). 2 Move the cursor around in the drawing area while Snap mode is turned on. Notice that the cursor snaps to points at equal intervals in the drawing area. To set snap spacing 1 On the status bar, right-click the Snap Mode button and click Settings. 2 In the Drafting Settings dialog box, Snap and Grid tab, ensure that Snap On (F9) is selected. 3 Under Snap Spacing, do the following:
In the Snap X Spacing box, enter 0.500 to set the horizontal snap spacing value in units.
In the Snap Y Spacing box, enter 0.500 to set the vertical snap spacing value in units.
4 Click OK.
NOTE If you do not see the Object Snap button, right-click the status bar and click Status Toggles OSnap (F3). 2 At any prompt that requests a point, you can specify a single object snap by holding down Shift, right-clicking, and choosing an object snap from the Object Snap menu.
The following table illustrates commonly used object snaps. Object Snap
Endpoint
Snaps to
Object endpoints
Midpoint
Object midpoints
Object Snap
Intersection
Snaps to
Object intersections or, for single object snaps, locations where intersections would occur if objects were extended
Center
Quadrant
Perpendicular
Points on objects that form a perpendicular alignment with the last point specified
Tangent
Point on a circle or arc that, when connected to the last point, forms a tangent line to the object
To specify an object snap 1 With Drawing1.dwg open, on the ribbon, click Home tab Draw panel Line.
2 Draw a line in the middle of the drawing area. 3 On the ribbon, click Home tab Draw panel Circle drop-down Center, Radius. 4 Press and while holding down Shift, right-click in the drawing area and select Midpoint from the Object Snap menu. This specifies the center point for the circle 5 Move the cursor over the middle of the line. If AutoSnap is on, the cursor should automatically lock onto the nearest midpoint object snap location and the marker and tooltip.
Pick in the drawing area to snap to the midpoint of the line. Specify the radius of the circle as 2.
To set running object snaps To use the same object snap repeatedly, you can set it as a running object snap. It will stay active until you turn it off. You can set multiple object snaps, such as Endpoint and Center, as running object snaps. Running object snaps can be turned on and off from the status bar. 1 On the status bar, right-click the Object Snap button and click Settings. 2 In the Drafting Settings dialog box, Object Snap tab, click Clear All and then select:
3 Click OK. 4 Draw several lines and circles using object snaps to locate points precisely.
On the status bar, click the Polar Tracking button to turn it on.
NOTE If you do not see the Polar Tracking button, right-click the status bar and click Status Toggles Polar (F10).
To use polar tracking 1 On the status bar, right-click the Polar Tracking button and click Settings. 2 In the Drafting Settings dialog box, Polar Tracking tab, ensure that Polar Tracking On (F10) is selected. 3 Under Polar Angle Settings, do the following:
In the Increment Angle drop-down list, select 45. Click New and enter 60 to add a custom polar angle. Additional angles are absolute, not incremental.
4 Click OK. Draw several lines at 45 and 60 degrees from each other. Notice that the lines snap to the angles specified. Delete the lines before going to the next exercise.
To draw objects using polar distance You can use direct distance entry to specify a coordinate value by moving the cursor to indicate a direction and then entering a distance from the previous
point. When polar tracking is on, using direct distance entry helps you draw lines at a pre-defined angle with a specified length 1 Ensure that Polar Tracking is on. 2 On the ribbon, click Home tab Draw panel Line.
3 Click in the drawing area to specify the first point and then move the cursor to the right (0 degrees). 4 Enter 10 in the dynamic prompt to specify the distance and press Enter. 5 Move the cursor up 90 degrees, enter 5 to specify the next point, and press Enter.
6 Repeat several more times and press Enter to finish. Delete lines before going to next exercise. To lock an angle for one point (angle) If the angle that you want to use is not going to be used frequently, you can enter an angle override. For example, if you start drawing a line at the coordinate 5,5, and want that line to be at a 10 degree angle with a length of 20, you would do the following: 1 On the ribbon, click Home tab Draw panel Line.
2 At the prompt, enter #5,5 to specify the first point and press Enter. 3 At the prompt, enter <10 to enter the angle override, and press Enter.
4 Move the cursor in the desired direction. 5 Enter 20 and press Enter. You have drawn a line at a 10 degree angle with a length of 20.